Thank you to all of you that have reveiwed Sacrifices! I am glad to hear that many of you are enjoying the story, I can only hope you enjoy it as much as I do writing it.
CHAPTER 4
Darien hadn't left his apartment the following three days after he'd seen Serena at the arcade with who he could only assume was Keegan. On his way home from the arcade he'd stopped at a liquor store just around the block from his apartment and bought several different bottles of booze. Then he proceeded home where he finished a bottle of whiskey the first night and the next day it was a bottle of vodka and some sort of flavored alcohol that tasted like peppermint that night. It had gotten to the point where Darien couldn't even manage to get out of the chair on his patio, he'd woken up the following morning with his face plastered against the patio wall. He staggard to his feet and fell back into his chair which broke under the force of his fall.
"SON OF A BITCH!" pulling himself back to his feet he gripped the railing and slowly turned to his apartment. The new sliding door stood open with a slight shake of his head "might as well have left the broken one." Darien made slow progress towards his bathroom where he proceeded to take a shower. It had been years since he'd drank and he couldn't remember a time that he'd went on a bender like the last few days. He felt like shit, he hadn't even bothered to look in the mirror before he stepped into the shower but he was pretty sure he looked like shit too.
"What am I doing?" Darien shut the water off and stood there in the shower. "How could I honestly believe she wouldn't find someone else. Damn it!"'' He hit the tiles with his palm and forced the curtain open, Darien walked into his bedroom not even bothering with a towel and threw himself down on his bed. "You know what you have to do!" He rolled over and pull an envelop from the top drawer of his nightstand and proceeded to stare at it until he got the distinct pull in his mind that signaled Serena had transformed. Darien dragged himself out of bed slowly, his head felt like it was going to explode and to make matters worse he didn't know how he was going to handle seeing her. "You could not go" " He considered it only briefly but the years of responding to her desperation was more of a habit then he could break.
Transforming into Tuxedo mask he was pleased that the headache that plagued his human form did not linger into this persona. He then made his way via rooftops to the park where the Sailor scouts were already locked in battle with a negaverse demon. Taking refuge in a nearby tree Tuxedo mask watch as the scouts countered the numerous fire attacks the beast threw at them. He noted that Mars was hanging back at the rear of their formation, after several attempts to do any damage she quickly saw that her fire attacks were useless against the fire demon.
"Girls we've got to get the upper hand!" Mars shouted over roar of yet another fire ball. "Mercury do you think you could give us some temporary cover?"
Mercury nodded, "I'll see what I can do. MERCURY AQUA MIST!" A spray of thick fog spread out over the grounds, it seemed to have the desired effect as the attacks ceased and the fire demon stumbled blindly through the fog trying to locate one of its opponents.
Tuxedo Mask located Sailor Moon in the fog, her face was etched with a determination he couldn't recall ever seeing before. Even during her greatest battles she had never appeared so focused. Her brows were furrowed as she anticipated the blind attack as the beast staggard through the mist. Tuxedo mask was shocked when she managed to land her back flip up right and balanced, Sailor Moon was at her best. As the mist began to fade Tuxedo mask couldn't help but fixate on the way it seemed to shimmer around her, "In the name of the moon, I'll punish you!"
In response the fire demon lunged at Sailor Moon, unable to land her flip she fell to the ground clutching her ankle she was unable to dodge the firy claws as they raked across her stomach throwing her back past the other scouts rushing to her aid. "SAILOR MOON!" They screamed in unison. Tuxedo mask taking his cue let a rose fly hitting the beast square in its forehead. He quickly scooped Sailor moon into his arms and got her out of the now heated battle. He had messed up, reacting too slow and now Sailor moon was paying the price. "Get your head in the game!" he scolded himself. "Stay with me Sailor moon."
Her slight whimper was not the answer he was hoping for but it was something. He finally felt he'd gotten her far enough away he knelt down slowly. In the distance he could hear the scouts waging against the demon. Although he knew they could hold their own they needed their leader. It was up to him to get her back to her team. "Sailor Moon?"
"Darien?" Her blue eyes were blurred with pain. Cupping her cheek he stroked it with his thumb, it comforted him to see the relief his touch brought her.
"I'm here, Serena." Pulling his left glove off he placed his palm against the tattered shreds of her uniform. The wound was deep and most of her abdomen was was stained red with blood. She started to shift and before he could stop her she was trying to pull herself up. He pressed his other hand firmly against her shoulder forcing her to stop moving. "What are you doing!?"
"They need me."
"Not like this, that thing could have sliced you in two." Placing his bare palm back on her stomach. "Hold still." Closing his eyes he forced all his power on her and slowly he let his healing power flow him in a wave shimmering golden light. Mending the torn flesh inch by inch he let his eyes open rove over her until his eyes locked on hers. It was as if time froze and everything else melted away, with out thinking he lowered his head and claimed lips with his own. He let every bit of emotion he felt for her feed the kiss. She responded instantly, opening her mouth to him allowing him to taste her. Her gloved hand was throwing his hat off and running through his hair in seconds. Darien pulled her against him reveling in the feel of her body. Sliding his bare hand through the tattered uniform he ran it a cross her stomach which tightened and flexed beneath his fingers.
"Oh Darien." Sailor Moon moaned into his mouth which in turn brought his world crashing down, he broke contact with her. She stared at him unsure why he had pulled away. "Tuxedo mask?"
"I'm sorry this can't happen." He turned back in the direction of the battle. "Come on, the scouts need you." Taking her back in his arms he leapt back to where the others were struggling against the fire demon.
"Hurry Sailor moon dust him!" Mars shouted just as Tuxedo mask placed Sailor moon on her feet he stepped away unable to control his weakness for her any other way he left. Returning to a nearby tree to oversee the remainder of the battle. Pushing what just occurred from his mind he focused on the scouts.
"I won't let you destroy a place of such beauty. Your kind are a plague and I mean to rid the universe of evil like you!" Sailor Moon shouted as she brought her wand level with the demon." "MOON SPIRAL HEART ATTACK!" In a bright ray of pink light the fire demon was no more. "Moon dusted." She beamed at the others.
"Took you long enough!" mars snorted as the scouts circled around her. "I was starting to think you two weren't coming back." Sailor Moon fought off the blush she knew was creeping up her neck to her face. It brought a small smile to Tuxedo mask face, always so modest about their relationship. How could he have put the others in such danger, his actions to end things with Serena may not be enough if everytime he saves Sailor Moon and he can't keep his hands off her. He had to do something more and it was starting to become clear what that was going to be. But he'd worry about that later, focusing back on the group he listened to their conversation.
Jupiter was scanning the surrounding area around them. "Do you think he's still here, hiding like the coward he is!?"
"Come on Jupiter he's long gone, we should be too." Mercury stated softly. "The media will be all over this place soon enough." The others nodded in agreement, all except Sailor Moon who continued to remain silent. The scouts noticed her pensive expression quickly enough.
"Sailor Moon is everything OK?" Venus placed a hand on her arm which only reinforced the fact she was lost deep in thought because it caused her to jump out of her skin.
"Huh?" Sailor Moon glanced around at her closest friends.
"You were thinking about HIM! Weren't you, don't even try and deny it!" Mars eyes seemed to be on fire.
Sailor Moon shook her head. "No, its not like that, I just don't understand." Tuxedo Mask felt like a heel, he'd been so weak and selfish. This must have been so hard on her over the last few months, he'd left her with no real answers only lies about his feelings for her. Granted she probably didn't know they were lies but he knew. But then there was Keegan, if all of this had been so hard for her how could she have so easily moved on to that bastard. Feeling his anger getting beyond his control he fought back the urge to leap out of the tree and question the five scouts about what was really going on there.
Venus moved closer to Sailor Moon and put an arm around her shoulders. "Come on we'll talk about it at the temple." Sailor Moon and the others transformed back to their street clothes and Serena allowed Mina to guide her towards the temple, the others followed quickly behind.
Tuxedo Mask watched them go and once they were beyond his line of sight he jumped down to the square. "How could I have been so stupid! Serena deserves better then this back and forth, if I can't keep my hands to myself then I can't protect Sailor Moon." He scolded himself as he leapt to a nearby rooftop, he could hear the media in the distance and dealing with camera men and reporters was not something he could manage. He needed to talk to someone and with the loss of Serena and with her the scouts only one person came to mind, Andrew.
With the girls headed to the temple he could only hope they wouldn't wind up at the arcade. Darien couldn't remember the last time he'd actually been in the arcade but he was going to have to chance it tonight. He transformed back to his street clothes once he'd reached the arcade, scoping out the parlor before he committed to going in he was relieved to see only a hand full of people.
"Holy SHIT! I must be hallucinating!" Andrew shouted from behind the counter. Every head in the room turned towards Darien, thankfully it was close enough to closing time it wasn't too much attention. As Darien reached the counter taking one of the center stools his best friend gave him a low bow. "To what do I owe the pleasure, your majesty?"
"Stop that! I should never have said anything to you. You'd think after all this time you'd get tired of doing that!" Darien glared at Andrew, he was the only person that Darien had trusted beyond the scouts to share his true identity with. Granted it he hadn't willingly told Andrew, it was a few years ago after the scouts had defeated wiseman that he cornered Darien at his apartment and began to grill him about the girls. Darien briefly tried to play it off like he didn't have a clue what Andrew was talking about, but then his friend pulled out a list of dates and times that the he and the girls had mysteriously disappeared and how they coincided with the appearance of the Sailor Scouts and Tuxedo mask. Darien had no other choice but to give in, Andrew swore to never say a word and to the best of his knowledge he'd kept that promise. He was pretty confident that not even Serena and the others knew that Andrew was in on their secret lives.
"You look like hell." Andrew gave Darien a sympathetic look. Pouring him a coffee he slide it across the counter and waited for Darien to open up.
"I need to talk to someone. I'm going out of my mind."
Andrew immediately stepped out from behind the counter, waving his arms. "Alright everybody! Arcade is closing early!" Darien watched in bewilderment as his best friend literally pushed customers out the doors. Locking them behind he turned back to Darien with a menacing look in his eyes. "I say we kill him."
Darien was taken aback by the look he saw in Andrew's eyes, it was frightening how quickly his good natured friend had taken on the appearance of an evil villain. "Kill who?"
"You came here to talk about Keegan right?" Andrew's evil smirk faded. "You do know about Keegan and Serena don't you? Please don't tell me I'm the first person to let the cat out of the bag."
"What?" Darien was unsure how to react, even though he'd known about Serena and Keegan for a few days it was like a slap in the face hearing it from Andrew. He couldn't deny it, there really was something to this Serena and Keegan thing. Andrew waved his hand in front of Darien's face. "Huh, yea Serena, Keegan I'd heard rumors. I'm not really here to talk about that though."
Andrew's jaw dropped. "You mean to tell me you aren't here to figure out a way to get Serena back?" Darien shook his head, he wished jealousy was all he had to worry about. "I'm going to take the internship in America."
"WHAT! He stared at Darien in disbelief, watching him as if he were waiting for his friend to say he was kidding about moving all the way across the world. "What about Serena? What about you know, your destiny!"
Darien slumped down, letting his head hit the counter. Was he really going through with this. The offer had arrived a few months ago followed by another letter last week but he couldn't leave then but now he felt like he could no longer stay. "Drew, destiny fucked me"
"It's that mother fucking nightmare again. I told you months ago Dare, its just something the enemy has worked up to mess with your head." Andrew was confident there was nothing more to the nightmare then the negaverse. "Tell me its because of something else? Explain to me why Serena is allowing some douche like Keegan hand around her?"
"I can't," Darien shrugged away the tears that were stinging the corner of his eyes. "She's my whole world Drew. She always has been and so what if it is the enemy what if its not; I can't take that risk. I wish it could be different, that our past were different but I won't chance it. I won't risk her life again."
Andrew slammed his fist down onto the counter, Darien raised his head to meet his best friends stare. "Look it's got blow having someone else's memories swimming around in your head, but this is your life you can't worry about what happened in the past."
Darien had tried to explain his past life as prince Endymion with Andrew and there was no real way to make it sound right. All Andrew had seemed to taken away from it was that Dairen had split personalities and it was an internal battle for which was the dominant persona. "You still don't get it; they aren't someone else's memories they are mine! I can close my eyes and instantly be back in time, living in the palace, seeing my parents and visiting the moon kingdom. It doesn't matter that I had a different name or was a different person its still part of me. Serena was the center of my world then and I can't change that now." An image of her face stained with passion floated to the front of his thoughts, even something as simple as a kiss was enough to set him a blaze.
"You're right I don't understand but I can't sit by and watch you throw away you're second chance. Queen Tranquility..."
"Serenity." Darien corrected, Andrew waved it off.
"whatever, she wanted you to be with her daughter."
"Things change, I swore to protect the princess and in the end that's all that matters. I will do what ever it takes to ensures Serena is able to claim her throne." Darien cleared his mind and for once he was able to see things clearly and he was able to find some relief in the choices he was making.
"You really believe that Serena will be able to become so mystical, all powerful queen of the known universe with out you here?" Andrew loved Serena like a sister but he was sceptical in her ability to pull that off. "Dare, I'll give you this. I've seen an incredible change in Serena over the years and most of it is because of the strength and confidence you give her. You two are like two sides of a coin and you compliment each other. I don't know everything you two have lived through but you've got to brush it off. Everything is going to work out, you can't run off to America."
"There's nothing stopping me, I've ended things with Serena and each day I stay I just run the risk of putting her life in greater danger." Darien stood up from the stool, he had made up his mind. "Will you do me a favor?"
"If I say no will you stay?" Andrew tried.
Darien shook his head and gave his friend a small smile. "Keep an eye on the girls for me, don't tell them where i've gone and don't let Serena do anything stupid."
"Ok, I won't say anything but I think its beyond the point of her doing anything stupid. You obviously haven't had the pleasure of meeting the slim ball she's calling her boyfriend."
"I'm not going to change my mind, Serena has to make her own choices and if he's her choice then let her be. Just please watch them and take care of yourself." Darien gave his friend a brief hug. "I'll be in touch." Walking out of the arcade for what could very well be the last time Darien lingered at the door. He could remember all the times Serena had nearly run him down in her hurried attempts to get to school, or just about anywhere else she was constantly running late to. Back then he'd been a different person, didn't know the history they had shared but even then he enjoyed the small interactions that they shared. Tormenting her had always been a highlight to his day. Those were just memories and something he would always cherish but he need to be strong and that meant he needed to move on.
Upon entering his apartment Darien set out to confirm his acceptance of the position in America and began his preperations for the the next few days he made his travel arrangements, turned in his resignation at the hospital. Packing his bags was one of the last things he did and when he got to the bottom drawer of his dresser he hesistated before opening it up. There were all the pictures he had shut away and though he truly did want to take them with him he knew he shouldn't. Again closing the drawer he walked out of his apartment and loaded up his bags. He was really going to do this, a new life awaited him in America.